Preview: The Tyne Carnival, Northumberland Street, Newcastle

ON SATURDAY, as part of the six-week Vamos! Festival, Newcastle’s Northumberland Street will be transformed as The Tyne Carnival returns, bringing with it a wash of colour, dance and music.

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A troupe of dancers on Newcastle Quayside, ahead of Tyne Carnival

ON SATURDAY, as part of the six-week Vamos! Festival, Newcastle’s Northumberland Street will be transformed as The Tyne Carnival returns, bringing with it a wash of colour, dance and music.

The Vamos! Festival, which runs until July 15, sees a broad range of events taking place across the North East.

Now in its seventh year, the festival celebrates Spanish and Portuguese speaking cultures in Newcastle and Gateshead by bringing together a range of cultural traditions including film, dance, theatre, cuisine, music and literature.

Vamos! 2012 has been praised for its innovative and exceptional projects by the London 2012 Inspire programme, in particular its conveying of the spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The second annual Tyne Carnival promises to be a highlight of the festival and there’s an open invitation to people of all ages to get into the Latin American spirit.

Event organiser Ximena Cordova says the aim of the carnival is to showcase “the cultural diversity of our region”.

This will be evident throughout the carnival with a mixture of local musical rhythms, percussion, dance and vibrant costumes.

Some of the most exciting musicians and artists from the North will feature, including the World Beaters Samba Band, Burundanga and the X-Salsa dance troupe.

Free workshops will be held throughout the day where people can try their hand at some of the carnival routines.

The party will continue after the parade finale at The Stand Comedy Club from noon with a barbecue, music and dancing.

The Stand will also host the evening’s entertainment – Cuban music act Domingo Candelario and North East talent including Rumba NE and the DJs Alx Alfaro and DJ Monnunno.

Tickets are required for the event and can be ordered through the ticket line, 08446 933 336, or online at www.thestand.co.uk

The Tyne Carnival is a free event starting at 11am in Northumberland Street.

Other events taking place across the region as part of the Vamos! Festival include:

La Teta Asustada (Milk of Sorrow) is a film about a young woman, Fausta, who is affected by an illness resulting from a period of violence and physical abuse in Peru. It will be introduced by Dr Yari Pérez Marín of Durham University at the Stand Comedy Club, Newcastle, on Tuesday at 4pm.

American artist, musician and composer Arto Lindsay will be staging one of his famous carnival procession projects. The carnival, called Keep Your Hat On, will feature the sound of the Ferryhill Brass Band and some surprises on the bank of the Wear at Elvet Bridge, Durham, on July 7 from 11am.

The London-based Los Charly’s Orchestra will play at The Sage Gateshead on July 7 from 9pm, combining a retro modern sound with 70s boogie and disco within a Latin perspective. For tickets call 0191 443 4661.